LEISURE AND RECREATION

Keywords

• Leisure
• Recreation
• Recreational facilities

After studying and practicing the activities in this chapter, you will be able to:

1. Describe leisure and recreation compare the various forms of activities that can be considered to either are for leisure or recreation
2. Explain the factors which determine what people do during their leisure time analyses the trend of engaging in leisure and recreation activities set a personal leisure activity goal and strategies towards achieving it

INTRODUCTION

What do you usually do after completing a given task?

You have had moments when you feel you are free: It might have been after a whole day working in the field, doing a lot of house chores, digging, and farming, among others. We engage in many activities which are dependent on our resource envelope, place of origin, socio – economic status, availability and exposure, among others. Do you know of cases of people who take drugs?

 What about those who sneak out of school? Do you know that there are many other useful activities one can do instead of engaging in risky behavior? In this chapter, you will appreciate the relation between leisure and recreation. You will also identify the ways you can spend your leisure time without being idle and disorderly.

7.1 The Concept of Leisure and Recreation

 The time when we are free to do what satisfies us away from our work schedule is leisure. The activities we engage in for fun during leisure time are what are termed as recreation.

 Activity 7.1 Understanding the concept of leisure and recreation

Resources

• Notebooks
• Pens
• Markers
• Manila

In groups:

1. Observe the following illustrations.

Work 9:00 am Leisure 10:52 am Leisure 6:00 pm

 2. Discuss and agree on the time that constitutes your leisure time.

 3. Think about the activities you do during your leisure time, at home and at school.

4. Basing on the above, agree on the meaning of leisure and recreation.

5. What constitutes active and passive leisure?

6. Come up with a chart presentation using the following format:

 7. Pin the chart on the class noticeboard for the benefit of the class.

 ICT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

 Using appropriate computer software, design a brochure on the responsible use of leisure by a secondary school learner. Print it and share copies with your classmates.

NOTE

• Some recreation activities violate societal norms or go against societal rules. Examples include drug abuse, gambling and other criminal activities.
• Recreation may or may not require facilities. The facilities used for recreation are known as recreational facilities. These include beaches, swimming pools, recreational parks, zoos and many others.

7.2 Factors which Determine how People Spend their Leisure Time

We all engage in different recreational activities. While this is usually a result of choice, many other factors come into play before we make the choice. It may be because they are the ones available or probably what our socio – economic status can afford.

Activity 7.2 Factors determining choice of recreation activities and trends

Resources

• Notebooks
• Markers
• Manila

 In groups:

1. Discuss and list recreational activities your family and friends engage in.

2. Discuss and suggest why they choose those activities.

3. How has participation in recreational activities changed over time in your community in terms of facilities, cost, frequency and type?

4 Come up with an article on the appropriate recreational activities for learners that will be published in the school magazine.

 5. Choose a secretary to present the article to the class for discussion.

Factors that determine the choice of recreation activities

1. Age

2. Socio – economic status (SES)

3. Recommendation

4. Price

5. Occupation

 6. Gender

7. Income levels

8. Peer influence

9. Proximity

7.3 Setting Personal Leisure Activity

 Setting personal leisure activity goals and sticking to them is one’s choice. Whether one achieves them or not, depends on one’s discipline but it will have consequences on their health. Many people now live a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle because of work. Some learners give priority to watching movies instead of active recreational activities such as playing games.

Activity 7.3 Setting Personal Leisure Activity Goals

Resources

• Notebooks

Figure 7.1 Factors that determine what people do during leisure time

Figure 7.2 Spending leisure time

Activity 7.3 Setting leisure activity goals

Individually:

1. List the times you consider free according to your school timetable
2. List the recreational activities you love engaging in during your free time.
3. Using the table below, prepare a two weeks ‘ leisure activity plan in your notebook. Give justification for your choice of activities.

Personal Leisure Activity Plan

b ) Rest Walk with friends walk with friends Lunch and Draughts Lunch and Conversation Lunch and Conversation Soccer training Class debate Watching a volleyball match Outing to town Watching a friendly soccer match 11.00pm to 4:30 am Sleep Rest

Table 7.1: Personal leisure activity plan

PROJECT

 Carry out a survey on the recreational Interests of the members of your class. Present it as a chart on the class noticeboard.

REVISION QUESTIONS

1. Leisure is a term often misunderstood by learners and, as such, it is usually misused.
2. What do you understand by the terms leisure and recreation?
3. Outline the recreation activities common in a typical school environment
4. Describe the recreational activities you engage in while at home.
5. Discuss the factors that determine the choice of the activities pointed out in (2a) above.

 Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you have learnt that:

• Leisure is the time when one is not working and can relax and do things that he or she enjoys. Examples of leisure time include evening time, weekends, school holidays, monthly leave, public holidays, and breaks after meals
• Recreation is any activity one participates in for enjoyment when he or she is not working. Examples of recreational activities include watching movies, playing games, hunting, travelling, hiking, swimming, listening to music, dancing and reading.
• factors that determine what people do during leisure include age , socio – economic status , recommendation , price , occupation , gender , income levels , peer influence , and proximity
• The engagement in leisure and recreational activities continues to change over time. It now demands money and has also been affected by technological advancement.
• It is recommended that one makes a leisure activity plan and follows it for a healthy lifestyle.

You now understand the relationship between leisure and recreation. You can also illustrate the ways one can spend

You can therefore their leisure time without being idle and disorderly. Time responsibly help communities, friends and peers to spend their leisure venture into or advocate for good recreational centers.

Prepare a leisure activity plan for healthy living avoids illegal recreation activities and help your friends avoid them too. Keep in good health. Carefully choose recreational activities so that you can